NFL notebook: Romo’s coping with backup role

FRISCO, Texas — Tony Romo says Dak Prescott has “earned the right” to take his job as starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.

In a five-minute prepared statement Tuesday, a solemn Romo described the difficulty of dealing with the news of the latest back injury to sideline him, and the 36-year-old reflected on his early days as an unheralded free agent trying to earn a job.

Jared Goff was the first pick in last year's draft, and he will get his first NFL start on Sunday when the Los Angles Rams play the Miami Dolphins. Associated Press/Bill Kostroun

Tony Romo says Dak Prescott has earned the right to take his job as starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Prescott, a rookie, and the Cowboys have won eight straight games and have the best record in the NFL. Associated Press/Roger Steinman

Romo quickly left the brief news conference after saying he wouldn’t take questions following his statement.

With Prescott leading the way, the Cowboys (8-1) have the best record in the NFL after tying a franchise season record with eight straight wins. Romo broke a bone in his back in a preseason game.

Romo is expected to be Prescott’s backup Sunday at home against Baltimore (5-4). It would be the first time Romo is active for a game since Thanksgiving last year.

RAMS: Quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, will start Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

It will be the first game action this season for Goff, who has been the No. 2 quarterback behind Case Keenum for eight of the Rams’ nine games.

The Rams ended a four-game losing streak by defeating the New York Jets on Sunday, improving to 4-5.

But the Rams have scored only two touchdowns in their last three games.

VIKINGS: Blair Walsh’s five seasons in Minnesota were filled with big-time makes and big-time misses.

With the skidding Vikings desperate to save their season, they simply couldn’t wait for Walsh to pull himself out of another rut. Minnesota cut Walsh two days after he missed his league-leading fourth extra point in a 26-20 loss to Washington.

Walsh was 12 of 16 on field goals and 15 of 19 on extra points in nine games this season. For a team that started 5-0 but has gone 0-4 since and is constructed to play close games, Walsh’s inconsistency could no longer be tolerated.

49ERS: Colin Kaepernick is standing behind his decision not to vote in the presidential election or even register to take part in the democratic process, saying he can effect change in other ways besides through a ballot.

The San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback has knelt through the national anthem all season to protest police brutality and the treatment of minorities, drawing criticism and acclaim alike. He took more heat for not voting last week.

Butler was the Cardinals’ punter for the first three games of the season before injuring a calf. He was waived with an injury settlement and the team signed Quigley.

Neither has impressive statistics.

STEELERS: Defensive end Cam Heyward will miss the remainder of the regular season with a torn pectoral injury sustained against the Dallas Cowboys, delivering a big blow to a defense that has been struggling to stop the run and generate pressure on the quarterback.

Heyward, the team’s best defensive player, made the announcement on his Twitter and Instagram accounts after getting a second evaluation on his injury.

It is the third separate injury this season for Heyward, who missed the final two preseason games with a high-ankle sprain and two regular-season games with a severe hamstring injury.

PANTHERS: Cam Newton said NFL players are “owed” the opportunity to celebrate after big plays.

The reigning Most Valuable Player said Tuesday he has no idea if the NFL’s sinking TV ratings early this season are tied to the league’s crackdown on celebrations, but the man who made “the dab” famous agrees with others players that they should be allowed to express themselves.

“The league has to understand it’s entertaining to see that,” Newton said.

Newton, whose Panthers host the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night, said he tuned into Monday night’s game to see how New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would celebrate if he scored a touchdown. Beckham didn’t disappoint, doing his best impersonation of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance, prompting a giddy Newton to imitate Beckham’s dance from behind the podium.

Beckham wasn’t flagged for excessive celebration, but some players have been this season.

BILLS: Buffalo signed veteran safety James Ihedigbo.

Ihedigbo, 32, has played for four teams in eight seasons, starting 52 games. Ihedigbo entered the league in 2008 with the New York Jets and played for Bills Coach Rex Ryan with the Jets from 2009-10. He has also played for New England, Baltimore and Detroit.

Ihedigbo started eight games for the Lions last season, with 63 tackles, one interception and three forced fumbles. Ihedigbo has 332 tackles, nine sacks and eight interceptions in his career.

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